NAPLES, FL

Born 02-24-30, Seymour, IN, to George and Hilda Thomas, died peacefully 03-02-2024 at age 94 with his wife of 71 years, Mary, by his side in Naples, FL.

Baptized & confirmed, St. Johns Lutheran Church & married to Mary Lee White, Immanuel Lutheran Church, September 2, 1952 all in Seymour, IN.

Don served in the US Army 1951-1953, Fort Carson, CO, & Mainz, Germany and a member of Ft. Wayne, IN Sheet Metal Local 156 & IN Local 20 working 40 years in N. Central IN & retired 1990.

Don & Mary moved to Naples, FL in 1997. They enjoyed metal detecting on the beaches of SW FL meeting folks & finding treasures & lost articles for people from all over the world. Loved telling stories with old & new friends over coffee in downtown Naples.

Don volunteered at the Amigos Center in Immokalee & Pelican Lutheran Church, Naples, FL. and was a current member of Grace Lutheran Church, Naples, FL and had served on the Evangelism Board, using his construction talents & witnessed his faith. Past active member & on many church boards at St. John Lutheran, Peru, IN, & Redeemer Lutheran, Kokomo, IN.

Other survivors include son, Joe Douglas Thomas, Holladay, TN, daughter, Susan Arnett, Greenville, SC, grandchildren, Brad Thomas, Alamogordo, NM, Jenni (Brent) Flickinger Garrison, IA, & Riley (Dana) Slusher, Carriere, MS. Great grandchildren Trey & Kelsey Thomas, Logansport, IN, Sidney & Dane Thomas, Alamogordo, NM, & Briggs, Brighton, & Bond Flickinger, Garrison, IA. Brother Lowell (Ruth Ellen) Thomas, Ft Myers, FL & many nieces & nephews.

Preceded in death by infant son, John Burton Thomas, great grandson, Banks Flickinger, Garrison, IA, grandson, Brian Thomas, Logansport, IN, & siblings Hugo & Clifford Thomas, Mabel Goecker & Helen Snyder, all of Seymour, IN.

Reverend Keith Lingsch will conduct a memorial service at Grace Lutheran Church, Naples, FL, date TBD. Memorials may be given to Pelican Lutheran Church, 5800 Golden Gate Pkwy, Naples, FL 34116 (pelicancommunitycenter.org) or the donor’s choice.